Burnside vs Waterfall Gully

Waterfall Gully is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Burnside. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Burnside, about half of households are couple families. In Waterfall Gully, the large majority of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Burnside: a median of $1.74 million, against $1.16 million in Waterfall Gully, though rent is higher in Waterfall Gully. Burnside is closer to the city centre: 7.4 km, against 9.9 km. On these figures, Burnside tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Waterfall Gully suits couples and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Burnside

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 41/100)
  • But Waterfall Gully is already more of a family suburb (89% vs 65%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Waterfall Gully

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,160,000 vs $1,737,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Burnside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($375/wk vs $468/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Burnside

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (67/100 vs 10/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (7.4 km vs 9.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Burnside

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (67/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 8%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 9%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Waterfall Gully

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.0% vs 4.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Burnside and Waterfall Gully drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Walkability 67 / 10
Burnside — Walkability: 67/100 Waterfall Gully — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 78 / 59
Burnside — Safety: 78/100 Waterfall Gully — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 15 / 14
Burnside — Low fire risk: 15/100 Waterfall Gully — Low fire risk: 14/100
Low flood risk 30 / 89
Burnside — Low flood risk: 30/100 Waterfall Gully — Low flood risk: 89/100

Demographics

Burnside has more residents (3,060 vs 161); Waterfall Gully has higher household incomes ($187,200 vs $117,364).

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Population 3,060
+95% vs other
 161
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% +11.0%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $117,364/yr $187,200/yr
+60% vs other
Median weekly rent $375/wk $468/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
0-4 4.6% / 5.0%
Burnside — 0-4: 4.6% Waterfall Gully — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 14.7% / 16.1%
Burnside — 5-14: 14.7% Waterfall Gully — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 6.9% / 10.6%
Burnside — 15-19: 6.9% Waterfall Gully — 15-19: 10.6%
20-24 4.9% / 7.5%
Burnside — 20-24: 4.9% Waterfall Gully — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 8.4% / 6.2%
Burnside — 25-34: 8.4% Waterfall Gully — 25-34: 6.2%
35-44 12.5% / 9.3%
Burnside — 35-44: 12.5% Waterfall Gully — 35-44: 9.3%
45-54 14.5% / 26.1%
Burnside — 45-54: 14.5% Waterfall Gully — 45-54: 26.1%
55-64 11.4% / 11.8%
Burnside — 55-64: 11.4% Waterfall Gully — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 10.4% / 5.0%
Burnside — 65-74: 10.4% Waterfall Gully — 65-74: 5.0%
75-84 8.8% / 3.7%
Burnside — 75-84: 8.8% Waterfall Gully — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 2.5% / —
Burnside — 85+: 2.5% Waterfall Gully — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burnside 53.7% couple families
Burnside — Couple Families: 53.7% Burnside — Lone Person: 32.6% Burnside — One Parent Families: 11.5% Burnside — Group Household: 1.4% Burnside — Other Families: 0.7%
Waterfall Gully 81.1% couple families
Waterfall Gully — Couple Families: 81.1% Waterfall Gully — Lone Person: 10.8% Waterfall Gully — One Parent Families: 8.1% Waterfall Gully — Group Household: 0.0% Waterfall Gully — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burnside 17.7% renting
Burnside — Owned Outright: 43.9% Burnside — Mortgage: 38.4% Burnside — Renting: 17.7%
Waterfall Gully 10.6% renting
Waterfall Gully — Owned Outright: 38.3% Waterfall Gully — Mortgage: 51.1% Waterfall Gully — Renting: 10.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Bachelor Degree 24.1% / 23.6%
Burnside — Bachelor Degree: 24.1% Waterfall Gully — Bachelor Degree: 23.6%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 12.4%
Burnside — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Waterfall Gully — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.7%
Burnside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Waterfall Gully — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 9.3%
Burnside — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% Waterfall Gully — Certificate III & IV: 9.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.1%
Burnside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Waterfall Gully — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
England 5.2% / 5.6%
Burnside — England: 5.2% Waterfall Gully — England: 5.6%
China 5.2% / 5.0%
Burnside — China: 5.2% Waterfall Gully — China: 5.0%
Malaysia 1.4% / 3.7%
Burnside — Malaysia: 1.4% Waterfall Gully — Malaysia: 3.7%
Ireland — / 4.3%
Burnside — Ireland: not among its largest Waterfall Gully — Ireland: 4.3%
India 2.6% / —
Burnside — India: 2.6% Waterfall Gully — India: not among its largest
Iran 1.1% / —
Burnside — Iran: 1.1% Waterfall Gully — Iran: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burnside 70.6% houses
Burnside — Houses: 70.6% Burnside — Townhouses: 25.6% Burnside — Flats / Apartments: 3.8%
Waterfall Gully 91.5% houses
Waterfall Gully — Houses: 91.5% Waterfall Gully — Townhouses: 8.5% Waterfall Gully — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Median house price $1,737,500 $1,160,000
Median unit price $668,000 —
Median land price $1,788,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 35 sales
 22 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Waterfall Gully has more land zoned for conservation (98% vs 11%).

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Environmental 11% 98%
Residential 87% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Burnside Waterfall Gully
New dwellings approved 250
across Burnside
same for both
Approvals change year on year +32%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Houses 2.3%
$800/wk on $1.77M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Burnside Waterfall Gully
House price Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 64% of SA
Income Higher than 92% of SA Higher than 99% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of SA Higher than 62% of SA
Affordability Higher than 32% of SA Higher than 97% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 99% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of SA —

Liveability

Burnside is more walkable (67 vs 10).

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Grade B —
Score 57/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Burnside carries more flood risk (70 vs 11); Waterfall Gully carries more crime risk (41 vs 22).

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Bushfire High
85/100
 High
86/100
Crime Low
22/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood High
70/100
 Low
11/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 3.5 km
 3
Adelaide University, Magill Campus, 5.9 km

Schools in Burnside

  • Burnside Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Waterfall Gully

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 10 1
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 14 18

Mobility

Waterfall Gully sits further from the CBD (9.9 km vs 7.4 km).

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Walkability score 67/100 10/100
Distance to Adelaide 7.4 km 9.9 km
+34% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 17 min
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 5066
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 5066
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Car (driver) 66.8% / 76.4%
Burnside — Car (driver): 66.8% Waterfall Gully — Car (driver): 76.4%
Worked from Home 19.3% / 19.4%
Burnside — Worked from Home: 19.3% Waterfall Gully — Worked from Home: 19.4%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.2%
Burnside — Car (passenger): 4.9% Waterfall Gully — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Bus 5.9% / —
Burnside — Bus: 5.9% Waterfall Gully — Bus: not among its largest
Bicycle 1.7% / —
Burnside — Bicycle: 1.7% Waterfall Gully — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.4%).

Setting

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Elevation 171 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 304 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.6 km 14.9 km

NBN connectivity

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Connectivity score 75/100 80/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
1,326 premises
 64%
61 premises

Climate

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Annual rainfall 969 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Burnside Waterfall Gully
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Average residential rate $2,410/yr
same for both
Council Burnside
same for both

Federal electorate

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Division Sturt
same for both
Member Claire Clutterham
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burnside Waterfall Gully
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Burnside

Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses

Waterfall Gully

Inner Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burnside

Burnside vs Beaumont Burnside vs Hazelwood Park Burnside vs Leabrook Burnside vs Stonyfell Burnside vs Erindale Burnside vs Greenhill

Other comparisons with Waterfall Gully

Waterfall Gully vs Beaumont Waterfall Gully vs Crafers West Waterfall Gully vs Mount Osmond Waterfall Gully vs Greenhill Waterfall Gully vs Leawood Gardens
Full data on Burnside Full data on Waterfall Gully
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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